Arsenal's stubborn defence nullified Matheus Cunha, writes ISAAN KHAN - but Wolves talisman showed enough to tempt the Gunners this month
Arsenal's stubborn defence nullified Matheus Cunha, writes ISAAN KHAN - but Wolves talisman showed enough to tempt the Gunners this month
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Upon the hour mark Matheus Cunha had lashed a strike from outside the box, leaving David Raya to spur into life, pawing the ball away at full stretch. The resulting corner fell, again, to Cunha, who scuffed this chance wide. These two chances were among Wolves’ best to walk away from the Molineux with a point against title chasers Arsenal. The Brazilian, as expected, was their most potent attacking threat.
![[The Brazilian endured a frustrating afternoon as Wolves suffered a 1-0 defeat by the Gunners]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/25/17/94510535-0-image-a-1_1737826913958.jpg)
Yet, those efforts summed up his afternoon. One of much promise — not enough to steal the show, but enough to certainly tempt the Gunners before the January transfer window closes. He often twisted and turned from the left side to the right, trying to make in-roads through the opposition backline. It kept the visitors alert and, at times, committing extra bodies to contain him.
![[But he showed enough to tempt Arsenal to make a move for him before the window closes]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/25/17/94510797-0-image-a-6_1737827140220.jpg)
Cunha has been widely linked as a transfer target of the north London club, and this was his audition in the proverbial shop window. Mikel Arteta’s interest in the talented attacker makes sense. He can play across all three forward positions — particularly of use when there’s a hole in the striker area and the absence of Bukayo Saka on the right wing through a hamstring injury.
![[Cunha kept the visitors alert throughout and they committed extra bodies to contain him]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/25/17/94510617-0-image-a-3_1737826938586.jpg)
Arsenal have been linked with a move for Wolves star Matheus Cunha in the transfer window. The Brazilian endured a frustrating afternoon as Wolves suffered a 1-0 defeat by the Gunners. But he showed enough to tempt Arsenal to make a move for him before the window closes.
![[Cunha's body language is a potential red flag though and Vitor Pereira has been critical of him]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/25/17/94510551-0-image-a-2_1737826935669.jpg)
Once the Gunners went down to 10 men, after Michael Oliver’s very questionable decision to send off Myles Lewis-Skelly for his challenge on Matt Doherty on a counter-attack, Wolves gradually went into the ascendency, allowing Cunha more time on the ball.
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